Vinicius Junior heaps praise on 'idol' Cristiano Ronaldo
- Vinicius has taken the number seven shirt at Real Madrid
- Ronaldo starred with that number between 2010 and 2018
- Rodrygo has also been promoted to 11
By Tom Gott
Vinicius Junior has admitted he feels honoured to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, by wearing Real Madrid's famous number seven shirt.
After Ronaldo's departure in 2018, the seven was given to striker Mariano Diaz but then belonged to Eden Hazard from 2019 until his own exit from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Vinicius was promoted to the seven as a reward for his emergence as one of the top wingers in world football and the Brazilian admitted the chance to further emulate Ronaldo in Madrid is one he will not take lightly.
"I'm very happy and very grateful to be able to wear this number that Cristiano, Juanito have worn, great players," Vinicius explained to club media. "I hope it's a great season.
"I am inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo because I have seen all his matches and he has marked an era at the club. He is an idol for me."
Asked what he respects most about Ronaldo, Vinicius responded: "Everything, the way he understands the game, his quality, everything he can do on the pitch. Everything."
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Fellow Brazilian Rodrygo has also been handed a new number, taking the 11 which was vacated by Marco Asensio's move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 11 shirt also has plenty of history at Real Madrid, with the likes of Paco Gento, Emilio Butragueno and Ronaldo all sporting the famous number, and Rodrygo is keen to emulate those all-time greats.
"They are players who have a lot of history," Rodrygo explained.
"Paco Gento has won six Champions Leagues, for me it would be an honour to get close to this. I am very happy to use this number."
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